Spring 2012 Volume 16, No. 1 The Coastal Plainer 3381 Skyway Drive, P.O. Box 311, Auburn, AL 36830 Phone: (334) 887–4549 Fax: (334) 887–4551 Http://www.mo15.nrcs.usda.gov/
Message from the MLRA Soil Survey According to the Region #15 National Soil Survey MO–Leader’s improvement plan and the implementation plan, the Desk MO–15 region will soon By Charles Love, MO–15 Team gain three MLRA SSOs Leader from MO–16 and will lose Again, greetings everyone! one to MO–14. We are gaining the MLRA SSOs I want to give you a brief at Jackson, Tennessee update regarding the (formerly 16–7); Greenville, reorganization of the Mississippi (formerly 16– National Soil Survey 8); and Denham Springs, Program. Louisiana (formerly 16–9). On January 9, 2012, These offices support Secretary of Agriculture Vilsack rolled out the portions of MLRAs 131 and 134. We will USDA “Blueprint for Stronger Services” based lose the MLRA SSO at Mayagüez, Puerto on a department-wide review of operations. He Rico (formerly 15–9). The Mayagüez office announced broad cuts within USDA, including will be aligned with MO–14 at Raleigh, North the closing of 259 offices. Twenty-four of those Carolina. It has been a great pleasure to work were soil survey offices, 6 were MLRA regional with State Soil Scientist Carmen Santiago offices (MOs), and 18 were MLRA soil survey and her MLRA team over the years. Working offices (MLRA SSOs). We plan to emerge with the Caribbean area, we have had the leaner, more efficient, and better organized. In the future, NRCS will maintain 12 MLRA regional offices. These offices will continue In This Issue: the strong quality-assurance processes of Message from the MO–Leader’s Desk...... 1 the National Cooperative Soil Survey (NCSS) A Schematic Map...... 2 and will lead the correlation of ecological Natural Resource Diversity Iniative at UF...... 3 sites and soil map units. The areas formerly MLRA Connection: SDJR...... 4 covered by the 18 MLRA soil survey offices that are closing will be consolidated into the You Found WHAT in My County?...... 6 remaining 124 MLRA SSOs. The MLRA SSOs Cool and Easy...... 7 will continue the work of the NCSS, including Alabama’s First Generation Soil Survey...... 9 the last of the initial soil survey inventory and NSSL to become KSSL...... 9 the harmonization of soil survey information Civil Rights Compliance in Program Delivery.. 10 collected over the last 100-plus years. We will Simplifying SharePoint...... 11 be correcting the soil databases to make them Last Acre Celebration in Mississippi...... 12 more consistent.
Helping People Understand Soils 2 The Coastal Plainer opportunity to provide soil survey quality assist in the full implementation of the plan by assurance and correlation activities for one the September 2012. most exciting areas in the country. Thank you As always, thank you for your support. Carmen for all your support over the years! The MO leaders affected by the reorganization have started communicating about the transition —Charles of responsibilities to the new structure. We have been brainstorming for ideas to smooth the consolidation and to meet the demands of this new regionalization effort by September. A Schematic Map By Sherlynette Castro, Soil Scientist, Fort Myers, Florida, In his decision memo, the Chief specified that MLRA Soil Survey Office all states, including those states that host an MO, would have a state soil scientist on their A common quote states, “We learn 10 percent state leadership team. The state soil scientist of what we read, 20 percent of what we hear, will continue to be supervised by the State 30 percent of what we see, 50 percent of Conservationist. what we see and hear, 70 percent of what we discuss with others, 80 percent of what we The state soil scientists build bridges between experience, and 95 percent of what we teach members of the National Cooperative Soil to someone” (attributed to William Glasser, Survey and soil survey inventory activities. The psychiatrist). When it comes to soil taxonomy, state soil scientists will be critical in deciding we have a known “Bible.” According to the what work is needed in the states. They quote, we would learn around 90 pages of “Soil will continue to be the lead contact with our Taxonomy” if we only read it. I am not criticizing partners in the states (universities, agencies, the hard work of the Soil Survey Staff who other NRCS technical staff, and others). created this masterpiece, but some of us need We will need our NCSS cooperators and a little extra help—not only to make our life partners more than ever as we address the easier, but to help our limited brain understand following two major areas: concepts that can be a little bit overwhelming without a picture, graph, or schematic map. I •• Soil ecology: Soil quality and soil am not sure if these learning considerations ecosystem sustainability are national led my supervisor to encourage me to create priorities. Our programs related to a schematic map of the Key to the Control dynamic soil properties and soil carbon Section for Particle-Size Classes and Their assessment will lead the way to a better Substitutes in Mineral Soils. Maybe he was understanding of environmental issues. just being melancholy about what we used to •• Database completeness: We will focus do. He actually shared with me “old-school on improving our baseline soil property schematic maps” that helped me to understand data and spatial data while developing how soil taxonomy is being changed with time. new soil interpretations and validations. After creating a schematic map and receiving We will focus more on conservation, compliments from other states, I decided to homeland security, and emergency share it with everyone in the hope it will be as preparedness. useful for you as it is for me. I tried to create I encourage our state soil scientists, MLRA a faithful reproduction that does not alter what leaders, cooperators, and partners to submit can be found on page 301 of the “Keys to to me any questions or concerns regarding Soil Taxonomy,” eleventh edition, 2010. The the implementation of the National Soil Survey schematic map is on the MO–15 Web site improvement plan. We need help to maintain at http://www.mo15.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/ a good flow of communication at all levels to control-section-key.html. Enjoy.
Helping People Understand Soils MLRA Soil Survey Region #15 3
With that barrier in mind, Morgan, Haynes, and Bailey organized a “meet and greet” at the UF student union. Federal, State, and local natural resource agencies met with dozens of students on a balmy March evening and provided information about careers and internships. NRCS was able to directly connect with students who are interested in interviewing for 2013 summer internships and with students who are preparing to graduate. Furthermore, NRCS should find that partnering with NRDI and UF professors will NRDI “meet and greet” at the University of Florida student union. The event provide an excellent platform attracted students interested in careers in natural resources. for promoting diversity in recruitment efforts. Natural Resource Diversity For more information about the Natural Resource Diversity Initiative, contact Tabitha Initiative at the University of Morgan at [email protected]. For information on recruitment activities in Florida, Florida—March 29th, 2012 contact Donna Hopwood at donna.hopwood@ By Donna Hopwood, USDA NRCS, Florida Civil Rights fl.usda.gov. Advisory Committee Chair Tabitha Morgan, master’s student in wildlife ecology and conservation at the University of Florida and Student Career Experience Program (SCEP) intern with the USDA Forest Service, along with fellow master’s students Nia Haynes and Karen Bailey, initiated a program at UF called the Natural Resource Diversity Initiative (NRDI). The goal of NRDI is to introduce students, especially those of minority backgrounds, to the field of natural resources. One of the main barriers to minority interest in natural resource fields is the uncertainty Organizers of the NRDI (left to right): Nia Haynes, Tabitha Morgan, and of what the many agencies do. Karen Bailey.
Helping People Understand Soils 4 The Coastal Plainer MLRA Connection: A harmonized NASIS MU/DMU will be developed from: Soil Data Join Recorrelation •• Existing manuscripts and correlation (SDJR) Soil Survey Projects documents reviewed for map unit composition, minor components, and map By Scott Anderson, Senior Regional Soil Scientist, MO–15 unit concept; •• Lab data reviewed, properly classified, and The official name for the next phase of the soil linked to the component they represent; survey is “Soil Data Join Recorrelation” (SDJR). •• OSD and history of edits reviewed; and You will still hear the term “harmonization” •• Map unit certified through quality used in reference to our NASIS work, but assurance process at the MO. SDJR projects involve much more than just harmonization of the database. Some MUs may not be suitable for harmonizing. In the Coastal Plain MLRA (133A), for example, The SDJR is a national initiative that will begin we have some identically named MUs that we in the 4th quarter of FY–2012 and continue may not be able to harmonize into a single for 3 full years. This initiative supports the MLRA MU because of variations in climate, development of seamless soils data for use crop yields, and woodland yields across several with the Conservation Division Streamline states. Such situations will be handled on a Initiative (CDSI), USDA farm bill programs, and case-by-case basis. We will probably need to added-value SSURGO products. The agency attach a “phase” to some MU names. CDSI is a primary driver along with the Chief’s K-and-T bulletin, which states that the properties 2) Conduct and document a detailed will be harmonized in the next 3 years for evaluation of each MU. Another benefit to implementation of calculated Ts and Ks. this initiative will be getting folks to analyze and document data (such as map unit concepts, The four main goals of SDJR (in this author’s components, and properties), correlation opinion) are: problems, and other issues. The evaluation notes will serve as the basis for future, more 1) Collapse the number of duplicate map focused, field-based MLRA projects. units in NASIS and “harmonize” the database. Data harmonization is a process 3) Eliminate as many join problems in the resulting in the correlation of similar data map tabular data as possible. This goes hand-in- units, taking into account existing legacy data, hand with number one above. This process will laboratory data, and tacit knowledge. The not fix all join problems. Remember, we are process focuses on reducing the number of only working on the tabular data (NASIS). No data map units (DMU) for similarly named soil spatial editing is planned for this initiative. This map units (MU). We will focus on the tabular initiative is a rapid evaluation and consolidation database (NASIS). of same- or similar-named MUs. Spatial data will be dealt with in the next initiative. Any A NASIS MU/DMU is defined as harmonized if remapping will be in future projects, including it has: the correction of problems with spatial joins •• Same map unit name, between surveys of different intensities. •• Same map unit composition, 4) Populate NASIS as needed with future •• Same horizon/layer depths, field projects involving each MU. The SDJR •• Same data attributes, work should generate future field projects. At •• Documentation of correlation or technical the completion of the SDJR project, each soil problems for future project needs, and survey office leader should have populated •• Updated or otherwise current official NASIS as needed with projects requiring series description (OSD). fieldwork, spatial work, or both.
Helping People Understand Soils MLRA Soil Survey Region #15 5
SDJR projects will require a coordinated effort Additional information regarding the SDJR throughout the MO region. The goal is for all initiative is available online. The national MLRA soil survey offices and technical teams instruction is available from the NSSC Data Join having ownership of a same-named MU to Recorrelation SharePoint site at https://nrcs. work together. A good example of a set of map sc.egov.usda.gov/ssra/nssc/datajoinr/default. units that need to be harmonized is “Savannah aspx. Click on the link to shared documents. fine sandy loam, 2 to 5 percent slopes.” The A webinar by the NSSC regarding the SDJR is set, which is shared by four MLRA soil survey available at ftp://ftp-fc.sc.egov.usda.gov/NSSC/ offices, is outlined in the table below. training/Webinars/.
Location and Acreage of Savannah Fine Sandy Loam, 2 to 5 Percent Slopes, within MO–15
Local Area MU MU Name MU SIR # Comp Name RV % Symbol Symbol Acres
AL063 (15-1) SaB Savannah fine sandy loam, 2 to 5 percent slopes 6,268 MS0083 Savannah 85
MS081 (15-1) SaB Savannah fine sandy loam, 2 to 5 percent slopes 1,329 MS0083 Savannah 90
Total = 7,597
MS023 (15-2) SfB Savannah fine sandy loam, 2 to 5 percent slopes 1,225 MS0083 Savannah 90
MS061 (15-2) SaB Savannah fine sandy loam, 2 to 5 percent slopes 12,191 MS0083 Savannah 90
MS069 (15-2) SaB Savannah fine sandy loam, 2 to 5 percent slopes 10,362 MS0083 Savannah 90
MS075 (15-2) SaB Savannah fine sandy loam, 2 to 5 percent slopes 8,084 MS0083 Savannah 90
MS079 (15-2) SaB Savannah fine sandy loam, 2 to 5 percent slopes 6,664 MS0083 Savannah 90
MS103 (15-2) SaB Savannah fine sandy loam, 2 to 5 percent slopes 8,583 MS0083 Savannah 90
MS123 (15-2) SaB Savannah fine sandy loam, 2 to 5 percent slopes 27,816 MS0083 Savannah 100
MS129 (15-2) SaB Savannah fine sandy loam, 2 to 5 percent slopes 41,817 MS0083 Savannah 90
MS153 (15-2) SaB Savannah fine sandy loam, 2 to 5 percent slopes 17,210 MS0083 Savannah 85
Total = 133,952
MS091 (15-3) ShB Savannah fine sandy loam, 2 to 5 percent slopes 25,156 MS0083 Savannah 90
MS111 (15-3) SaB Savannah fine sandy loam, 2 to 5 percent slopes 5,383 MS0083 Savannah 90
Total = 30,539
AL047 (15-4) 52 Savannah fine sandy loam, 2 to 5 percent slopes 23,259 MS0083 Savannah 80
AL085 (15-4) SbB Savannah fine sandy loam, 2 to 5 percent slopes 641 MS0083 Savannah 85
Total = 23,900
Grand Total = 195,988
Helping People Understand Soils 6 The Coastal Plainer You Found WHAT in My extreme northern tip of the MO–15 area. It was actually a good thing that luck of the draw County? (or some divine intervention) had Steve doing By Craig Harris, MLRA Subset Leader, Milan, Tennessee that map. David Thomas and I have seen so many sites like this one, we might not have I used to be one of those folks who, once gone so far into the flood plain to investigate it; becoming engrossed in a new novel, peeked we probably would have (accurately) assigned at the end to find out how things turned out. it to one of our other frequently flooded map Doing this on many occasions, I discovered units. As it turns out, Steve was right. What that most stories fell into two categories we had, after describing and sampling, was with regard to their endings. They either a Terric Haplosaprist; and it was a good one. tied up all the loose ends or pitched a wild The organic layer ranged well up in the 35-inch hair that led to another novel. If I look at the range (we did find one that was typic, being extensive revision to the soil survey of Henry greater than 51 inches), and the lab work ran and Benton Counties, Tennessee, as a novel by Mississippi State (thank you Steve Depew) (albeit a long, complex one that could surely lined up perfectly for the Scuppernong series, be a cure for insomnia), I can—being at the which I had previously seen in North Carolina. end of it now—see that it falls into the latter The outstanding question was “WHY WAS group. IT HERE?” It took several thinking-out-loud We were in the last few thousand acres of the sessions with many different people to come up aforementioned 620K-acre project when Steve with our current theory. We’re still not entirely Monteith, former MLRA leader for area 16–7, sure we’re right; but until we hear otherwise, the came to me with an interesting question. Steve following is it. had been helping us map a few field sheets and ran across an interesting find. He asked, “Have you ever seen any Histosols in this county?” I gave him the what-have- you-been-drinking look and said, “Umm, no. Why?” To which he replied, “I think we might want to look at something on my sheet.” So began the wild hair at the end of this extensive revision. We investigated Steve’s find, which was in a typical position of a typical Red Maple tree throw shows the large, shallow root mat indicative of the trees in the wide flood plain in Histosol site. The canopy openings allow herbaceous wetland forbs to thrive. The a typical geological plant growing at the base of the tree throw is Polygonum arifolium, Halberdleaf formation for the Tearthumb, a State-listed threatened species in Tennessee.
Helping People Understand Soils MLRA Soil Survey Region #15 7 This site is a freak combination of several of the land on which this Histosol sits is owned crucial components, all of which are necessary by the Tennessee Valley Authority, and they are to create the Histosol. First and foremost, the very interested in investigating and preserving hydrology had to be right. The hydrology was it. The MLRA soil survey office at Milan plans then dependent on the landscape position and to assist the TVA and MO–15 (of which we are the geology. The McNairy formation overlies now a part) in whatever way we can to see that the Coon Creek formation in the area, but the this rare treasure is documented. position (flood plain) allows springs from the McNairy aquifer to keep the area pretty much saturated even in the driest weather. The plant community is also important. Most of the canopy trees are species that are generally Cool and Easy intolerant of saturated conditions. These By Aaron Achen, Editor, MO–15 species include white oak, yellow poplar, and American beech. The intolerance of water The world of GIS has finally become forced the trees to put out wide, shallow root sophisticated enough to be simple. Using systems that formed a mat just above the Google documents, you can now convert saturated layer. It is our contention that, as the spreadsheet data to a map and make it trees grew, the larger roots became inundated available online. You don’t need to be a GIS and died, but that the roots died at a slow expert, you don’t need special software, and enough rate that the trees could replace them by you don’t need your own Web site. You just forming a new mat over the old one. Another need a spreadsheet and an internet connection. critical factor is that the position afforded the Specifics are available at http://www.google. site protection from sedimentation. We did find com/fusiontables/Home/. a similar soil in another part of the county. The I started with an Excel spreadsheet that had similar soil is in an area of active sedimentation 4 columns and 850 rows; I ended with a that is buried by more than 3 feet of silty map on the Soil Science Division’s Web site sediment and is now more like the Arkabutla at http://soils.usda.gov/education/training/ series. So these Histosols existed in a previous block_diagrams_map.html. (The map can era but are now a rare find. Finally, we think also be viewed directly at https://www.google. that the site being protected from harvest over com/fusiontables/DataSource?snapid=S479 the past 70 years or more has helped preserve 0980u98.) The map shows the locations of the conditions. In areas where tree throws have soil surveys for which we have online block opened the canopy, many hydrophytic species, diagrams. such as sphagnum moss, are thriving. If the The basic steps are: canopy were entirely open, the organic matter would likely oxidize and disappear. 1. Prepare the spreadsheet. 2. Upload the spreadsheet. I often reflect on events and try to make sense 3. Convert the spreadsheet to a table. of them by stepping back and looking at the 4. Convert the table to a map. “big picture.” I like to compare (or contrast) 5. Share the map. things to life in general. Some things don’t make sense and never will. But this wild hair 1) Prepare the spreadsheet. I started with a does make sense. In all its complexity, it is large Excel spreadsheet that I reduced to four a simple thing. It is there because all of the columns. One of the columns included location components that are required to make it are data, such as “Chambers County, Alabama” still there. Like a house of cards, remove one and “Jacksonville, Florida.” Any location that of the structural components and the whole can be located by Google maps can be used. thing collapses. The good news is that much Types of location data that can be used include
Helping People Understand Soils 8 The Coastal Plainer counties, cities, street addresses, latitude and Visualize > Table. As locations are geocoded, longitude, zip codes, and names of National they cease to be highlighted yellow in the table. parks. Other columns can contain numbers, Any locations that remain yellow need to be text, or hyperlinks. manually geocoded (click on the Earth icon by the location name and follow the directions). 2) Upload the spreadsheet to Google documents. You need a Google account. 5) Share the map. Once your map is ready, There are no IT prohibitions against using click on the Share button to allow other people Google documents at work. When you upload to view your map. You will be given a number the spreadsheet, it will be converted from Excel of options for sharing. After you have shared format to Google format. the map, you can chose from two types of links to the map. The first type is a direct link. 3) Convert the spreadsheet to a table. The Click on “Get link,” copy the link that pops up, Create button gives you an option to create and distribute the link as you like. The second a “Fusion” table. (“Fusion” is a brand name.) type is an embedded link. “Embedded” means Once the table is created, open it up and use “embedded in a Web page that you have Edit > Modify columns to control the column access to.” Click on “Get embedded link,” copy properties. After you have the properties set the html code, and place it in an existing Web correctly, locations will be highlighted in yellow page. In all cases, if you change the table, the and hyperlinks will be blue and underlined. map will also change. 4) Convert the table to a map. The command Additional details about the process used to to convert the table to a map is Visualize > Map. make the block-diagram map are available from When you use this command, the location data the MO–15 SharePoint site in the “Guidance will begin to geocode (change your locations Docs” folder of the Open Documents library to points on the map). To return to a table, use (http://go.usa.gov/V2A).
A screenshot of a portion of a map that shows the locations of soil surveys for which we have online block diagrams. The map was made using Google documents. Clicking on a red dot on the map brings up a block diagram from the archive of the Soil Science Division.
Helping People Understand Soils MLRA Soil Survey Region #15 9
Attendees at the celebration of Alabama’s first generation soil survey (left to right): Sylvia Long, Lawrence McGhee, Milton Tuck, Larry Spratling, Darnae Hopkins, John Burns, Charles Love, Robert Beaty, Herbert Ross, Cooper Nichols, David Gray, Sanderson Page, Dr. Ramble Ankumah, Dr. Joey Shaw, Greg Brannon, Dr. Richard Guthrie, Dr. Monday Mbila, David Smith, George Martin, Art Goddard, Joshua Reed, John Clements, Earl Norton, Ben Malone, Jerome Langlinais, Zachery Hayes, Sarah Walker, Steve Cauthen, Dr. Bill Puckett, Alden Harris, and Eddie Davis.
Celebration of Alabama’s NSSL to become KSSL By Linda Greene, ACES Enrollee, Natural Resources First Generation Soil Survey Conservation Service, National Soil Survey Center, Lincoln, By Charles Love, Alabama State Soil Scientist Nebraska On April 3rd, the Alabama Natural Resources On June 4th, the National Soil Survey Center Conservation Service and cooperators will formally dedicate its soil survey laboratory celebrated the completion of the “First in honor of Dr. Charles E. Kellogg. The Generation Soil Survey.” Alabama now has a dedication ceremony will take place in the soil survey for all private, American Indian, and Denney Federal Building in Lincoln, Nebraska, federal lands. This is truly a great milestone and anyone with an interest in the event is for Alabama, and I want to personally thank welcome to attend. Dr. Kellogg’s grandson, the cooperators and partners who contributed Steven Kellogg, is scheduled to participate to this effort over the years. The State could along with agency leadership and locally not have achieved this milestone without elected officials. Following the ceremonial the strong commitment of our cooperators unveiling of the plaque, the lab will be known and many others. The completion of as Charles E. Kellogg Soil Survey Laboratory. the first generation soil survey is a great accomplishment we can all be proud of. Dr. Kellogg achieved one of the most distinguished careers in the history of soil The completion of the first generation is quite science, a career marked by a dedication naturally the beginning of the next generation. to assist land users through the knowledge The need to maintain soils information and to of soils. To accomplish that objective, he provide that information to the public is even redirected and refined the soil survey program stronger than it was 25, 50, or 100 years ago. of the Department of Agriculture, which he My challenge to you is to improve on the initial supervised from 1934 to 1971. His legacy survey and to build our understanding of soil continues in the work of soil scientists around ecosystems as we make the “Next Generation the world. Soil Survey” to last another 100-plus years.
Helping People Understand Soils 10 The Coastal Plainer Civil Rights Compliance in the public with disabilities to electronic and information technology provided by the federal Program Delivery government. Next, she covered the Age By Johanna Pate, Civil Rights Chairperson, Louisiana Discrimination Act of 1975, which prohibits NRCS discrimination on the basis of age when programs and services are provided. Johanna Louisiana NRCS hosted three sessions of also discussed diversity and the relationship of “Civil Rights Compliance in Program Delivery” cultural values to diversity. this year. The sessions were held in Lafayette, Monroe, and Alexandria. Sixty-nine NRCS Corby Moore is the district conservationist at employees learned about their responsibilities Deridder and the special emphasis program regarding civil rights while working for NRCS manager for veterans. He instructed the and administering NRCS programs. The classes on helpful methods for indentifying trainers were Johanna Pate and Corby Moore. racial-ethnic and special groups within Johanna Pate is a rangeland management the Louisiana work area and discussed specialist and chair of the Louisiana NRCS components of effective outreach programs. Civil Rights Advisory Committee. She Corby also taught the classes how to use instructed the classes on Title VI and Title NRCS management tools to incorporate VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as the civil rights responsibilities into all programs, legal backdrop for the NRCS civil rights operations, and other management functions. implementation plan. She also discussed He discussed the role of the local soil and Title IX of the Education Amendments of water conservation district board and ways 1972, which prohibits discrimination on the to encourage diverse representation on the basis of sex when programs and services are board. The participants learned how to apply provided. She then covered Section 508 of the program evaluation process used in civil the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which requires rights compliance reviews and how to handle access for all employees or members of program discrimination complaints.
NRCS employees at a session of “Civil Rights Compliance in Program Delivery” (left to right): Jerry Shows, acting assistant state conservationist for operations; Holly Martien, state public affairs specialist; and Clyde Irvin, district conservationist.
Helping People Understand Soils MLRA Soil Survey Region #15 11 Simplifying SharePoint Explorer.” In this view, you can click-and-drag or copy-and-paste multiple files. This ability is By Aaron Achen, MO–15 SharePoint Administrator especially useful for moving files within the site. SharePoint can be baffling. In hopes of making For more details, see http://go.usa.gov/pCZ. our site easier to use, I offer five observations. Note that if you move files into our SharePoint using the Windows Explorer view, the files will 1) Not everyone can see and do the same automatically be checked out to you. things. In many ways, the SharePoint site is just a shared network drive with elaborate 5) The author is responsible for backups. controls over who can see and change various The people that have permission to change files files. On the MO–15 site, the MO leader can on the MO–15 SharePoint site are competent see and change any file. The field soil scientists professionals. Even so, accidents happen. If can see files in the Internal Documents and you post a file to the site, you need to be aware Open Documents libraries but can only change that your file could be damaged or deleted. files in the Internal Documents library. USDA Keep your own backup. Remember, you want to visitors can see the Open Documents library share your files, not give them away. When the but can’t change any files. The general public author keeps a backup, everyone is relieved of cannot see anything (http://go.usa.gov/pCD). some of the fear of an accidentally deleted file. If you need permission to see or change additional files, contact the site administrator. 2) If you check out a document, no one else The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) can change it. SharePoint gives you the choice prohibits discrimination in all of its programs to copy a file to your computer or to open the file and activities on the basis of race, color, directly. If you open the file directly, SharePoint national origin, age, disability, and where gives you the choice to open a “read-only” copy applicable, sex (including gender identity and or to “check out” the file and make changes to expression), marital status, familial status, the file. The checked out file cannot be changed parental status, religion, sexual orientation, by anyone else and, in some cases, is invisible political beliefs, genetic information, reprisal, to everyone else. Please check the file back or because all or part of an individual’s income in when you are done! For more details, see is derived from any public assistance program. http://go.usa.gov/pCB. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative 3) Select the library before selecting a file. means for communication of program Perhaps the least obvious aspect of SharePoint information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) is that it gives you different options for file should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at management depending on how you get to (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). the files. On the MO–15 site, for example, members see the Internal Documents library To file a complaint of discrimination, write to: when they first enter the site. If they click USDA directly on a file in the library, they are not given Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights the option to change the file. If they click on the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights words “Internal Documents” first, however, they 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Stop 9410 are given this option. Washington, DC 20250-9410 4) The “Windows Explorer view” lets you Or call toll-free at (866) 632-9992 (English) move multiple files simultaneously. By or (800) 877-8339 (TDD) or (866) 377-8642 default, SharePoint looks and operates like (English Federal-relay) or (800) 845-6136 a Web page. The actions menu, however, (Spanish Federal-relay). USDA is an equal provides the option to “Open with Windows opportunity provider and employer.
Helping People Understand Soils 12 The Coastal Plainer James Curtis Last Acre Celebration in Jarrel Austin (USFS) Mississippi Jerome Langlinais Jerry Huddleston By Delaney Johnson, Mississippi State Soil Scientist H.C. Williams* The soil scientists of Mississippi would like to Karl Miller express our deepest appreciation to all of those Kenneth Byers who attended and participated at the “Last Acre Kenneth Murphy Kevin Lee (USFS) Celebration to Usher in the Next Generation L.B. Walton* of the Mississippi Soil Survey Program.” The L.C. Murphree* celebration was held on Tuesday, May 8, 2012, Lewis Watts* in Jackson, Mississippi. It was made possible Lynn Weeks (USFS) by the help of many people from different Mac Robards backgrounds over many years. Margaret Rice Mary Spann We also are very appreciative of the support M.C. Tyer* shown at the unveiling of the historical Melvin Lee* monument at Leakesville, Mississippi, the Michael Lilly following Friday. Our special thanks to the Michael Williams Hattiesburg Area 3 staff and Public Affairs staff. Morris Shaffer Paul Brass* All of the continued support of the Soil Survey Paul Finnell Program is most appreciated. Following is a list of soil scientists who worked in Mississippi over the years. Soil Scientists of Mississippi Addison Wynn, Jr.* A.E. Thomas* Alan Peer Allen C. Milbrandt Allen Curry Anthony Wallace* Bill Morris* Brooks Hale* Charles Stemmans Charlie Breland Cheryl Mclaurin Christopher Hatcher Curtis Godfrey David Jones Delaney Johnson Delmer Stamps Dwain Daniels E.D. Matthews* E.J. McNutt* Floyd Brent* F.T. Scotts* Grant Martin Herbert Ross Historical monument commemorating the mapping of H.S. Galberry* Mississippi’s 30,020,454 acres, with the last acre Huel Neal* mapped in Greene County in 2011.
Helping People Understand Soils MLRA Soil Survey Region #15 13
Paul Leggett* Velton Algood* Paul Barlow* William Carter Paul Nichols* W.I. Smith Rachel Stout-Evans William Bright Ralph Thornton William Cole R.B. Kahrein* William Koos Richard Cox Willie Green Rex Chandler Willie Terry Rex Davis Walter Kinnan* Robert Fulgham* Soil Survey Liaisons Robert Hinton* Robert Wimbish Dr. David Pettry Roger Smith* Dr. H.B Vanderford* Steve Depew Dr. William (Billy) Kingery Steve Fisher Cartographic Section Steve Monteith Paulette Grantham Tom Arnold (USFS) Sue Nations Tom Kilpatrick Tina Adams Tony Lee (USFS) T.W. Green* * Deceased
Participants at the Mississippi last-acre celebration (left to right): William (Billy) Kingery, soil survey liaison; David Jones, state soil scientist, retired; Charles Love, acting director Soil Survey Division/MO–15 team leader; Willie Terry, soil scientist; Curtis Godfrey, area resource soil scientist; Michael Williams, soil scientist; Delmer Stamps, state resource conservationist; Steve Depew, MLRA soil survey office leader; Rachel Stout-Evans, MLRA soil survey office leader; James Curtis, assistant state soil scientist; Ralph Thornton, area resource soil scientist; Delaney Johnson, state soil scientist; Jerome Langlinais, MLRA soil survey office leader; Cheryl McLaurin, soil scientist, resigned; Rex Davis, area resource soil scientist, retired; Michael Lilly, state soil scientist, retired; Al Garner, acting state conservationist; and Christopher Hatcher, MLRA soil survey office leader.
Helping People Understand Soils